An interview with Rose Hill Drive

Here is a very interesting interview between Daniel Sproul, guitarist of Rose Hill Drive, and Platon Sakellariou, radio producer of Just Radio. He talks about the band’s news, about the upcoming Rose Hill Drive album, about his music influences etc. Enjoy!

First of all i would like to thank you for accepting to talk to Just Radio! How is the band progressing right now?

Thank you too! The band is going really well right now. We have a fresh outlook and I feel like we are playing together better than ever, thanks to the work and time we have put into different projects during our time apart. It’s more fun than ever and I can’t wait for people to hear the new music we are working on.

I noticed that your facebook page wasn’t active for about 4 years, until last July. What happened during those years?

(Haha) Yeah, It was silence there for a while. Nate (Nathan Barnes-drumms) and I started to play with a guy named Ryan Bingham and Jacob (Jacob Sproul – bass guitar and vocals) pursued producing EDM music and DJ’ing (he’s super talented at it). While on the road with Ryan, I couldn’t help but visit the songs we had been working on during the time around 2013 and 2014. I started to have these overwhelming feelings that we needed to do something with the music and start playing again, and here we are now!

You chose ”Rose Hill Drive” to be the name of your band. Is there any backstory?

Jacob and I grew up on Rosehill Drive (notice the street is spelled with two words) in Boulder, CO in the same house my Dad grew up in as a child. We learned music there starting at a young age and eventually created the band there with Nate in high school, around 1999/2000

I would also like to know, which bands influenced you.

So many! Starting with Stevie Ray Vaughan and The Allman Brothers, to Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin and Stone Temple Pilots. I love so many different kinds of music. Currently, my wife and daughter and I are listening to Natty Dread on vinyl. My 20 month old daughter Layla requests it daily by name!

What inspires you to write lyrics for?

Any kind of feelings that are impactful, or feelings that are overwhelming. Basically, you have to be effected to write in my opinion. If you are happy and content and feel like you have no issues in life, how are you going to write a song? You need a platform of discomfort or intensity, something that elevates you or sinks you, something that is difficult or notable. At least that’s what I think!

Are there any plans for a new record?

Well I’m so glad you asked! Absolutely, in fact I think it’s done. I just finished mixing it and its super badass. I hope we can get it out and released within a couple months here. Just stay tuned. It’s the most exciting rock we’ve made, in my opinion.

Is there any chance to see you live in Europe again?

I certainly hope so. I love playing in Europe. I went there with Ryan a couple times, and I would die to bring RHD over again. I have a feeling this new music will do really well over in your area!

You were one of the first bands of the ”reviving rock/hard rock wave” . Was this music wave succeed after all these years?

Music is always changing in appearance, but it never really loses its core. Real music from the right place will always be relevant, especially in crazy times like these.

How are your three albums (Rose Hill Drive,Moon is the New Earth and Americana) different?

I think that they vary a lot. The first seems to be trying too hard to be throw back, in my opinion, and the second is much more true to our influences in our teen years, like Stone Temple Pilots. Americana is my favorite release we have made, mainly because I feel like we found a voice in ourselves. This new music is something that I’ve always wanted the band to sound like on a record. I can’t wait for you to hear it.

Vinyl sells are increased rapidly during the last years, In your opinion is it because people realized vinyl is the best format for listening to music, or is it just a temporary trend?

I think that it’s both, and I will always listen to vinyl. I think that in the tornado of modern technology and chaos, vinyl has a tangibility and grounding power that an mp3 will never have.

May you suggest me any interesting music you are listening now?

I just got into Danny Gatton, I’m sure I’m late on that train though. He’s one of the most amazing guitar players I’ve ever heard. I wish he was still around so I could see him live.

Could you tell me how much the American media promote rock bands? Do the Americans listen to rock anymore?

This is a fantastic question. America promotes making money at any cost, even at its own citizens cost. This fact alone should make rock music more popular than ever, but I think that the capitalism surrounding it is a black hole that sucks the humanity from the population.

Excuse me for making a politic question, but i am interested to know, what do you have to say about the election of Donald Trump? (i’ll understand if you don’t want to answer)

I don’t even know where to begin. What the fuck is happening in this world right now. What the fuck.

Is there anything else you want to add? I don’t have any other questions to make, thank you again for accepting to talk to us, I wish all the best for Rose Hill Drive!